Members of the N.C. Oil and Gas Commission will hold their first meeting in Raleigh on Wednesday to swear-in new members and become familiar with their responsibilities for adopting rules on oil and gas exploration in North Carolina.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is inviting additional public feedback on rules drafted to better protect public health and the environment when coal ash wastes are disposed of and recycled.

The state Department of Environmental Quality’s Recycling Program recently provided $574,000 in recycling business development grants to 21 North Carolina recycling companies that are expected to create 66 jobs and generate more than $2.1 million in new, private business investments while reducing the state’s dependence on landfill disposal.

Along with the return of spring blooms and sticky pollen, today marks the start of the 2018 ozone season. State and local environmental agencies will issue daily air quality forecasts for ozone in seven metropolitan areas across North Carolina through Oct. 30.

The state Department of Environmental Quality today issued an air quality permit for the Northampton Compressor Station for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project. After an engaged public process, staff with DEQ’s Division of Air Quality revised the original draft permit to accurately address emissions and require future permit modifications if needed.

The state Division of Air Quality today announced that analysis of rainwater samples recently collected near the Chemours facility show varying levels of GenX. Details may be viewed on DEQ’s GenX website, with concentrations ranging from non-detects and 5.2 parts per trillion to 630 parts per trillion on Jan. 28-29 and 9.98 parts per trillion to 286 parts per trillion on Feb. 4-5.